The 2023-24 Hillsdale Shotgun team. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department
The shotgun team placed first overall at the Hillsdale Invitational last weekend.
The team also placed first in trap doubles, trap, skeet doubles, and 5-stand at the John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Center. The Hillsdale athletes both competed in the event and helped to run it.
“There were both collegiate shooters and a bunch of high school competitors at our invitational and it was pretty fun seeing the younger ones shooting,” freshman Madeline Corbin said. “It was a long day of both shooting and working but our team handled it great and we put up some great scores.”
The college competed against Ferris State University, Grace College, Michigan State University, Olivet University, Purdue University, and the University of Michigan. High schoolers competed in a separate division.
Hillsdale placed first out of all teams with a collective score of 1096/1125. Junior Josh Corbin (219/225) was the highest overall male competitor, freshman Luke Johnson (217/225) was second, and senior Jackson Sokel (214/225) was third. In the women’s division, Madeline Corbin (211/225) was the highest overall female competitor, senior Jessica Strasser (205/225) was second, and senior Ida Brown (203/225) was third.
“I was pleased at the way I performed Saturday,” Madeline Corbin said. “I feel like I’ve kept improving from this fall and I’m really excited for our competition in Missouri and then nationals in Texas.”
In men’s trap doubles, Josh Corbin tied with Johnson for first with 98/100 clays hit. Sophomore Leif Andersen followed close behind in third at 97/100 clays. In the women’s division, Madeline Corbin placed first with 93/100 clays, followed by Brown and Strasser tying for second at 89/100 clays.
“It was a good starting point to see where we are at our events and shows us what we might need to improve on before going to Texas or Arizona,” sophomore Sophia Bultema said. “Students from other colleges and students who are entry level come out to the event.”
In trap, the Hillsdale squad made a perfect score of 250/250. Senior William Stuart, junior Jonathan Calabrese, junior Kyle Fleck, Strasser, and Madeline Corbin all hit 50/50 clays.
“We’re getting to the point where we’re not really trying to make big adjustments,” head coach Jordan Hintz said. “We’re not trying to learn great, big new things, or implement new strategies necessarily.”
In skeet doubles, Josh Corbin placed first in the men’s division, with a perfect score of 50/50. Sophomore Jordan Sapp tied with Johnson for second with 48/50 targets. In the women’s division, Madeline Corbin placed first with 48/50, followed by Brown and freshman Ava Downs tying for second at 47/50 targets.
In the 5-Stand event, Fleck and junior Gavin Drill tied for first with a perfect 25/25 clays hit. Andersen, sophomore Davis Hay, and Johnson all tied for third with a 24/25 score. In the women’s division, Strasser and Downs tied for first at 21/25, while Madeline Corbin got third place with 20/25.
Hintz said the team’s success at the invitational set a high standard looking toward nationals next month.
“We had a lot of athletes contribute, and we had a lot of people put up really good scores even if they weren’t top competitors,” Hintz said. “I’m just really, really proud of them, rising up to deal with the cold and help work the event. I’m just super excited to see what they’re going to be able to do when the conditions are right and we’re head-to-head against our closest competition.”
The Chargers will travel next to Columbia, Missouri to compete in the Association of College Unions International/Scholastic Clay Target Program Spring Central Midwest Conference Championships March 1-3. Half the team will then go to the USA Shooting Olympics trials in Tucson, Arizona March 11-17, and immediately following will go to the ACUI/SCTP Nationals in San Antonio, Texas March 18-23.